Started By
Message
Question on Holtz for Arkansas fans
Posted on 6/25/26 at 8:59 am
Posted on 6/25/26 at 8:59 am
I had heard that his lack of recruiting in state kids was a factor in his firing from Arkansas. I had a family friend who's son played at an Arkansas high school during that time and was somewhat highly recruited by several programs but hardly ever heard from Arkansas and was never offered. Just curious if anyone would know about this.
6
Posted on 6/25/26 at 9:00 am to BroomfieldReb
Its crazy, Arkansas had Holtz and Sutton at the same time
Posted on 6/25/26 at 9:02 am to BroomfieldReb
He was fired just after doing a campaign commercial for Jesse Helms.
Posted on 6/25/26 at 9:05 am to BroomfieldReb
Yes, not recruiting in-state kids was part of it. But, (according to rumors) he was despised by Arkansas HS coaches because he totally disrespected them.
Posted on 6/25/26 at 9:10 am to ljhog
Thanks for the response 
Posted on 6/25/26 at 10:15 am to BroomfieldReb
One highly recruited player that left was Keith Jackson for Oklahoma.
That angered many fans and he also was on the Johnny Carson show, he said Fayetteville isn't the end of the world but you can see it from here. That didn't go well with many fans and his association with Jesse Helms caused the school to tell him to keep his distance from which he ignored.
He pretty much was burned out.
That angered many fans and he also was on the Johnny Carson show, he said Fayetteville isn't the end of the world but you can see it from here. That didn't go well with many fans and his association with Jesse Helms caused the school to tell him to keep his distance from which he ignored.
He pretty much was burned out.
Posted on 6/25/26 at 10:22 am to BroomfieldReb
It would be interesting to know the domino effect through the ‘80s and ‘90s if Jimmy Johnson had gotten the Arkansas job in 1977 instead of Holtz.
Posted on 6/25/26 at 10:30 am to ljhog
quote:
he totally disrespected them.
He spit on them when he talked, didn't he?
Posted on 6/25/26 at 10:45 am to junkfunky
quote:
he totally disrespected them. He spit on them when he talked, didn't he?
Be nice to Granny Clampett.
Posted on 6/25/26 at 10:53 am to junkfunky
In fairness, he spat on everyone he spoke to...
Posted on 6/25/26 at 11:29 am to BroomfieldReb
The lack of recruiting in state talent and comments did not endear him to the state.
What sealed the deal, however, was campaigning for Jesse Helms. It wasn't just Helms leading the fight against MLK Jr. day, though I am hard pressed to think of something back then that would have driven away young Black athletes faster than that. Rather it was that Holtz doing such an action heavily implied that the University of Arkansas was endorsing Helms.
People have a hard time remembering just how much raw political power Broyles effectively wielded in Arkansas back then. Bill Clinton called Broyles the most powerful man in the state for a reason. Broyles, and before him Barnhill, had built a system based one state, one football team.
You didn't comment on political issues because it might offend a group in state, you took your smiling pictures with the Governor, and that was that. To make matters worse, Helms was a devoted Republican. As hard as it is to believe now back then the Republican party in Arkansas was so small it was joked they had their state convention at a corner booth in Denny's. Democrats controlled everything, and I do mean everything.
Holtz didn't just touch the third rail of Arkansas politics, he took a giant whiz on it.
What sealed the deal, however, was campaigning for Jesse Helms. It wasn't just Helms leading the fight against MLK Jr. day, though I am hard pressed to think of something back then that would have driven away young Black athletes faster than that. Rather it was that Holtz doing such an action heavily implied that the University of Arkansas was endorsing Helms.
People have a hard time remembering just how much raw political power Broyles effectively wielded in Arkansas back then. Bill Clinton called Broyles the most powerful man in the state for a reason. Broyles, and before him Barnhill, had built a system based one state, one football team.
You didn't comment on political issues because it might offend a group in state, you took your smiling pictures with the Governor, and that was that. To make matters worse, Helms was a devoted Republican. As hard as it is to believe now back then the Republican party in Arkansas was so small it was joked they had their state convention at a corner booth in Denny's. Democrats controlled everything, and I do mean everything.
Holtz didn't just touch the third rail of Arkansas politics, he took a giant whiz on it.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News